Saturday, August 17, 2013

applied journalism 101

This past week Santa Maria Sun reporter (and AG soccer coach) Camillia Lanham visited class to find out more about Open Source Learning. Students learned about the First Amendment and what's on the record (everything) and off the record (nothing) when you talk to a reporter. They also learned that investigative journalists do more than blog from their couch. They go where the story is, they talk to people with different perspectives, ask all sorts of questions, evaluate the credibility of their information & sources, and do their own independent research to double-check their facts and ensure they've learned enough about their subject to describe and explain it to the public. This is one reason to consider how we learn about the news. Not every loud opinion or blog qualifies as journalism.

When Camillia visited she took this picture

and later sent it to me so I could ask Melissa Steller if it was OK to put it in the paper. (Melissa said yes.) Why was it important to ask that question?

Once upon a time, we waited for the film to develop so we could tell the stories of our pictures. Now we snap away with our phones and let our pictures tell the stories of us. Do you think people should have the courtesy to ask each other
permission to post the pictures they take, or does this matter anymore? Do you want more control over the use of your image? As a start, what do you think about asking each other permission to publish pictures/video on the Web or elsewhere? To my way of thinking, this is a free and easy way to show that you are considerate and professional. I think I asked everyone in this picture permission to post, but if I missed someone or you changed your mind please let me know.